The cartoons usually weren't very funny, nor very animated, but the other directors all took their turns imitating them for some reason.

Even Clampett did, and they are his weakest cartoons. The cartoons are based on verbal jokes or literal illustrations of verbal slang. In the 30s Tex was basically satisfied if he had "jokes" in his cartoons. He didn't take advantage of the animators to plus the jokes very often-not until the mid 1940s at MGM.This bit is from a Clampett cheater cartoon-also a satire of travelogues and it's mostly just a string of jokes. This particular joke has been done a million times in cartoons-a Doberman Pincer 'pincing' other dogs. Normally you would just yawn at such a corny joke, but this time it's animated so doggone funny that the joke becomes hilarious.

The animation is totally weird and out of place for 1941. Most animation at Warner's at the time is good, but fairly conservative. Clampett though, was always trying to find ways to make the animation be funny by itself, even outside of the actual jokes.

My favorite part of the scene is when the Doberman runs from dog to dog with such jerky glee.

He jumps from close to the screen to farther back and his head sways left and right like a maniac!

Look how eager he is as he approaches a victim!

He takes liberties with verve.

The other dogs' reactions of shock and outrage add to the weirdness of the scene.

I remember those docu-cartoons! The same guy was also doing the voice-overs. My favorite scene was in one particular short where these little bunnies are hopping around. Then a nazi bird shows up, and then the rabbits shoot him down with a cannon. And one of those rabbits was none other than Bugs Bunny himself :) Why did Tex Avery direct some cartoons under Fred Avery?

oh man, i remember this cartoon moment from seeing it as a kid. i used to think it was hilarious, and i still do. great drawings indeed. i also love the transition from the dog being like a serious-drawn cartoon to a very cartoony-cartoon.

That was fucking hysterical!! I loved every second of it. The slow motion one is super funny! I loved the weird poses the dog makes and those head tilts heighten the craziness of the dogs actions. I love how Clampett uses the perspective when the dog goes all over the room rather than making it all "stagey" and just placing a character right smack in the center without any variation throughout the whole scene. Clampett rules!

I just love the construction on that pincher. Some of those grabs are just amazing drawings.The difference between anything made today and some of those cartoons in the 40's and 50's is just so drastic, it shocks me to think think not long ago I didn't even have the eyes to see it. It really gives an artist something to aim for.

This just goes to show you it's the delivery more often than the joke itself that makes it funny. So much comedy is plagiarism anyway. The Simpsons has very good (though often recycled) jokes and often good delivery, but most of the animation isn't itself funny (except some of Homer's physical comedy)

Thats wild!,the incredible array of expresions of wild abandon on the dobermans face really sell the joke.thats really a riot,he should be locked up!Thanks for posting the stills so we can enjoy the hilarity or some great cartooning,they really drive home your point.Incidentally I remeber some of the cartoons you are talking about,like Symphony in slang where the whole cartoon was nothing but gag illustrations of beatnik words.

This is a great illustration of how cartoons bring things to life. Take a dog that looks realistic and boring then make him do cartoony actions and poses. Clampett made this even funnier by brining the other boting looking dogs to life one by one wuth teh pinching. The man was a genius.

I can't remember having laughed so hard watching a cartoon for a long time! Thank you! xDAnd thanks for all the great tips and everything, I only found your blog the other day and it's now my paradise. You really inspire me to follow the career I dream of :D

Wow, I think every frame you posted could be used as a line of action study. Every one of them read so well and have strong silhouettes. Even the calm dogs minding their own business have a rigid, sturdy silhouette as opposed to the zany pincher, which only makes him seem all the more lively and crazy.

That's great. I find it funnier watching at the poses, the animation goes too fast even in slowmotion! I love how solid the main dog looks especially when he has one hand next to the camera. The moment in which he comes to life is fantastic too.

Thanks that you post these amazing cartoon!!! A masterpiece!It's the best animated Doberman ever! I like the artwork of each character, they really study each dog breed, it looks so natural and cartoony at the same time and it's soooo funny!!!